Online Tutoring on Health Care in Australia

It is the culture, religion, climate and economical factors that have divided the same human into different status and levels in a single society. Multiple factors can be held responsible that influence the status, health conditions and living standards of individuals in a society. Referring the given case, Carla an old divorced woman is a determined woman struggling with all her means to keep up with her living, also supporting her ex-husband and children. She was born in small coastal mining town, where the town’s economy was mainly influenced by the mining operations. Unfortunately, decline in mining operations and closure of mines adversely affected the living of the locals. Carla was also one of the victims of socioeconomic changes.

After the death of her parents, she endeavored to continue with her schooling without any home support as her guardian, her old aunt was herself illiterate. Carla got married at a young age and was divorced within a short period, she raised her two kids as a single parent with no financial support only earning through different odd jobs.

Carla’s ex-husband once a mine worker, was supporting his family and was satisfied with his living. But, after the closure of mines in town got jobless. He tried to pursue with another odd job but encountered with a head injury, while under stress to earn for his living ignored the injury which later developed into a loss of memory. Thus, he became medically unfit for any kind of job. Carla’s two kids, a daughter and a son were below the grade students at school. Both moved to the city in search of employment. While, her daughter lived with her boyfriend, also the couples were striving for a better living.

There are many factors like economic conditions, rate of employment, lack of resources and environment that contributes to influence the living standards of individuals within a single community. The same factors are unpredictable and beyond one’s control, whereas it’s quite common that lives of many individuals are adversely affected due to any changes in the same factors. In Carla’s case, in the beginning when the mining operations were going well, but as the same operations were terminated many individuals became jobless, the overall economic condition of the town was deteriorated. Thus many individual families were affected. Socioeconomic issues have a deep impact on health as well. Social determinants of health arise from the social and economic conditions in which we live and are not so fixed (Farrell, 2008).

Similar is the case of Carla’s ex-husband, while there were mining operations going well in town he was employed, earning a good living also supporting his wife Carla and the two kids. There were no health issues with him as he was satisfied with his job. However, with the closure of mines like many others Calra’s ex-husband got jobless. Being jobless and no steady income laid much stress on him. Whereas in medical terms it is stated that too much stress leads to health issues. Poor social and economic circumstances affect health throughout the lifespan (pairman, Pincombe, Thorogood & Tracy, 2010).

As income generated from the mining operations was the only source of economy of the town Carla was living in, with the decline in mining operations its economy also declined. Closure of mines resulted in the rise of unemployment, it became hard for many families to keep up with their living. Under such economic conditions striving for family’s living become more important. Whereas, health and other issues becomes secondary. As stated by Adibi (2015) that social and economic conditions and their effects on people’s lives determine their health status and their risk of illness. Whereas the main elements of social determinants of health, the working conditions and economy of the town both were unsatisfactory. Carla’s ex-husband being part of the same unemployed community was under much stress that affected his health, secondly when encountered with head injury opted to pursue his job ignoring any medical assistance as it might not be affordable for him. Lower income populations have a number of attributes which can interfere with the efficient and effective delivery of healthcare services (Culyer, 2014). Thus, decline in the only income resource that is mining, badly affected the living standards, physical and mental health of the under privileged community.

The entire economy of the Carla’s hometown was based on the income from mining operations. Whereas due to the closure of mines and other significant means of income many individuals either migrated from the town or were forced to live in a deteriorated conditions. In this case the main elements of social determinant are the working conditions and the resources. Environmental degradation and resource depletion have negative impacts on the rural economy (International Business Publications, 2014).

Availability of natural resources is always very unpredictable and societies cannot rely on it for their survival. There must be some other means of income to keep the economy running. Establishing non-farm activities like dairy farm, pottery, craft work or black smith, etc, would be a replacement for mining operations providing employment and means of income to the locals. To promote non-farming activities local banks, financial institutes and the local government would have to come forward. Local banks and financial institutes should issue loans to the locals on affordable terms & conditions for the purchase of raw material and equipments required. Whereas, local government would be responsible for making available tools and other equipments on easy installments. Also, government by making arrangements to induce advance technology for the non-farm activities would enable local products to compete in international markets. Thus, generating more business and an enhanced economy. In many rural areas around the globe, to leverage their economy non-farming activities are commonly being implemented.

Secondly, in order to enhance the living standards of the poor community and to retain the migrating locals, public services should be made affordable in rural areas influenced by social determinants. The education standards must be equivalent to the urban areas and provided free to the poor locals.

Health practitioners have a greater to play to encounter with the issues of social determinants. The case of Carla’s home town portrays that the medical service available in town were either not sufficient or beyond the reach of the poor individuals. It is a routine that in rural areas only few GPs are practicing with few medical tools and only routine medicines.  Though it is a small town, but senior doctors and surgeons must be deployed to encounter with any serious health problem or accident, moreover the medical centers must be equipped with the advance tech medical equipments, supplied with all necessary medicines and operation theater facilities.  Facility of an Advance Medical laboratory will aid in right and timely treatment of any injury or health issue.  The main hurdle in the access of a better medical assistance is the exorbitant fees and other expenses, considering the economic conditions of the town, the health practitioners should maintain their fees and other charges that affordable by the poor community members.

Finally, it may be concluded that social determinants of health are linked with the growth opportunities, availability of resources and easy access to basic amenities. By providing public services on easy terms and creating job opportunities to generate income for the poor people, will not only enhance the economy but at the same time will minimize the impact of social determinants of health on the community.

 

References:

Adibi, S. (2015) mHealth Multidisciplinary Verticals. Florida: CRC Press.

Culyer, A. J. (2014) Encyclopedia of Health Economics.  Elsevier: USA.

Farell, C., McAvoy, H., Wilde, J. and Combat Poverty Agency (2008) Tackling Health Inequalities – An All-Ireland Approach to Social Determinants. Dublin: Combat Poverty Agency/Institute of Public Health in Ireland.

International Business Publications, 2014, Botswana Energy Policy, Laws and Regulations Handbook,  Volume 1, USA.

Pairman, S., Pincombe, J., Thorogood, C., Tracy, S. (2010) Midwifery. USA: Elsevier.